NUM members intensifying strike at Dwarsivier Mine Limpopo

About 1 500 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at Dwarsrivier mine have resolved to intensify strike action that will further brought production in the company to a standstill. The company's management continues to be arrogant towards workers demands.

The strike by underground, surface and administration workers has now entered its third day with workers demanding the company to make provisions for housing subsidy, allocate transport to and from work, and increase medical aid contribution to 60%.

The Dwarsrivier mine is one of the biggest chrome producing mining company based in Burgersfort, Limpopo province. Our members are fed up and angered by an ongoing conduct by Dwarsrivier mine management in that they are busy doing away with all agreements signed, and replacing them with own policies.

"Our members are prepared to fight this company. They are prepared to march to the company's head offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, with a view to force the directors to accede to our demands", said NUM North-East Regional Secretary Phillip Mankge.

The NUM in North-East is in a process of applying for a secondary strike that will result in all contractors on site that we have recognition agreement with, joining the strike.

Dwarsrivier mine is refusing to comply with the Labour Relations Act, and improve the conditions of employment as stipulated in the Act.

“The management of Dwarsrivier mine is so arrogant. We are sick and tired of their behaviour. This company does not care about our livelihood. Firstly, it does not provide housing for employees, but instead, is able to offer mansion houses to supervisors in the suburbs of Lydenburg”, said NUM North-East Regional Secretary Phillip Mankge.

All the surrounding mining companies were offering reliable transport to own employees but Dwarsrivier mine was refusing. Our members are ready and prepared to fight tooth and nail until their demands are met.

The NUM is highly agitated by the fact that black managers are the once leading all negotiation processes at the mine, but instead of understanding the plight of the poor workers, they are the once who treated them badly.

It is highly disappointing to see that there are still companies out there in the country that are still entrapped in a form of modern slavery, refusing to conform to the labour laws of South Africa.